There’s a national shortage of Adderall right now, and it’s not great!
Over six months ago, early signs of Adderall supply shortages began popping up with no resolution since. Of course, the drug’s largest producers and the FDA only said something recently.
There’s a growing demand for the drug as ADHD diagnoses have increased, but in greater numbers for adults and with overwhelmingly positive benefits. Also, Adderall has been around since ’96. We’ve used the components of this drug for various conditions since the early 1900s, and none of those ingredients include gold or nuclear fusion. So what’s the deal?
The DEA, famous for the failed War on Drugs and for using taxpayer money to go after marijuana charges because it is more profitable, refused to increase Adderall manufacturing quotas this year. They didn’t provide a reason, but neither did anyone in Big Pharma. The lack of communication and a clear explanation for this problem is confounding, to say the least.
Many agree that ADHD treatment, in itself, is not ADHD-friendly. But while you’re not getting the prescription fills you need to function every day, consider the following projects, tasks, and ideas that are, arguably, easier to pull off than an Adderall prescription is these days.
Not in a “ha-ha, satire” way, but like literally, the financial, logistical, or time-based hurdles are more reasonable – especially when you consider that many are not only facing few options but, in many cases, none at all.
Things That Are Easier to Get Than an Adderall Prescription Filled Right Now
A gun
In most cases, you can do this within a few hours and without a background check!
Your entire house delivered somewhere else
It’s called “structural relocation.”
DNA paternity test results
Some are same-day, next-day, or a few weeks – all shorter timelines than current Adderall delays!
Laser eye surgery
With time for recovery!
High
Depending on your state, you can get legal marijuana in minutes. Even illegally, the logistics would certainly be less convoluted.
Approved for a mortgage
Especially if you get a quick appraisal.
All of these certifications
CPR, First Aid, OSHA compliance, ServSafe, and Food Handler.
Iconic Chicago foods delivered anywhere in the States
Like a cake from Portillo’s or deep dish pizza from Giordano’s.
A roll of film developed and digitized
Including slides and 110mm film.
Pretty good at playing the recorder
If a kid can do it, you can.
A grip
Just get one!
Caught in the rain
Depending on where you’re at.
Back from a round-trip, cross-country scenic train adventure
Verified on Twitter
Just give a billionaire egomaniac a few dollars each month!
An expedited passport application
Some have been as few as 2-3 weeks.
Appointed as a notary
Some states require less training than others!
A corneal transplant
There’s no waiting list, it only takes a few hours, and in many cases, you can go home the same day.
The party started
Especially on a Saturday night.
A truckload of fresh seawater delivered from the East Coast to someone living on the West Coast
I am unwilling to actually request a quote from one of these companies, but ChatGPT says: “Assuming that the seawater is being transported by a standard 18-wheeler truck with a full load capacity of around 45,000 pounds, and the distance between the two coasts is approximately 2,500 miles, the estimated delivery time would be around 3-5 days.”
Why it matters
By improving the communication between different parts of the brain, Adderall can help people with ADHD to better manage their symptoms, such as difficulty focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Adderall is not the only treatment for ADHD. Still, this issue has cascading effects on similar medications currently being prescribed as temporary alternatives.
The lack of access to medications like Adderall can have serious consequences for the well-being and livelihoods of people with ADHD. Unfortunately, the condition and its treatments are often stigmatized and mocked, which makes this treatment difficult to access when there isn’t a supply shortage.
And if you really are struggling with getting your ADHD meds, check out ADDitude’s guide, How to Weather the Persistent Adderall Shortage and Inflow’s Adderall shortage resources, too.
Yes, Dylan has ADHD.
He writes about ADHD a lot. And yes, he has been struggling with his own Adderall refills.